Apple wants Sony’s Blu-Ray burner for MacBooks
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Apple computers and desktops equipped with Blu-Ray drives is a rumor that continues to circulate. The company can’t seem to get its act together and get on with equipping its computers with Blu-Ray drives of any kind. Several sites are reporting that it is “actively courting” Sony for its Blu-Ray drives for use in laptops (and likely desktops).
It’s not interested in just any Blu-Ray drive; that would be too easy. Apple wants to equip its computers with a BD-R Blu-Ray burner, which are quite expensive. It’s rumored that Sony offered the company Blu-Ray/DVD-RW drives which were turned down.
According to Engadget, the latest line of MacBook Pros were supposed to feature a slot loading BD-R Blu-Ray drive but Sony couldn’t release them due to “quality control” issues. Apple wouldn’t settle for the Blu-Ray/DVD-RW drives and so the wait continues.
The latest MacBook and MacBook Pro line are not exactly a revolution either. Sure, the bump in specs for the MacBook to 2.4GHz is nice as it is for the MacBook Pro which also got a multi-touch trackpad. These are just interim updates until Apple releases the real revisions; possibly later this year or at next year’s MacWorld.
It could have made up for the shortcoming in specs by adding a Blu-Ray/DVD-RW drive as an option. So, you can’t burn Blu-Ray discs, big deal. This would have been better than nothing but it settled for nothing. Note to Apple, that was the wrong decision.
PC laptops are already being equipped with Blu-Ray drives and can be had for less than the “basic” MacBook Pro. Is it just me, or does Apple’s line of computers continue to stagnate? Innovative? Not so much.
Related:
Stumble It!
Entry was posted
on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 11:15 am
under 
Print This Post
Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
March 2nd, 2008
How is this new news?
I’ve had an apple with a BD-player in it for 3 months already.
March 2nd, 2008
Are you blind ? Those other PC/Laptop manufacturer’s don’t have what Apple does. Apple has a thing called A Successful business model - iTunes/iPod. And it’s what’s helped them convert more people to Mac and make oodles of money while their at it. If you really think Apple would waste time implementing Blu-Ray Burner’s in their Macbooks you don’t deserve to write a column. The whole methodology behind Apple changing from the Power4/5 architecture was battery life NOT Mhz as so many people believe (Google what IBM are doing with the Power6 architecture) Blu-Ray burners would seriously hinder the battery in a laptop. The MacPro is a possibility, even the Macbook Pro. Just take a look where Apple sees where the market going with the Macbook Air, and see if I’m right.
March 2nd, 2008
Are you blind and I quote, “the latest line of MacBook Pros were supposed to feature a slot loading BD-R Blu-Ray drive but Sony couldn’t release them due to “quality control” issues. Apple wouldn’t settle for the Blu-Ray/DVD-RW drives and so the wait continues.”
So what’s your point… you basically argue what was already said.
The battery life issue has been talked about on our sister site, TECH.BLORGE.com
May 15th, 2008
Hey man I think that the wait for the Blue Ray drives from Apple will be worth it. Apple will only give there loyal customers the best of the best; thats what’s set them apart form those worthless PC’s that are only good for nothing besides sitting there. Ya they are already putting Blue Ray drives in there computers but the way that all those other computer companies work is quantity not quality.
June 11th, 2008
I agree completely with Shayne, “all those other computer companies work is quantity not quality.” That’s exactly what separates Apple from the rest, they make quality products with the best technology. If Apple went with just the blu-ray player people would be upset to find out that in a few months their ‘new’ technology is now in the past when Apple reveals their blu-ray burners…
August 2nd, 2008
I’m glad Apple waited and didn’t settle for a piece of junk DVD-RW. Who cares about that? We want BD-R (50 GB of space). Jonathan Shcallafer is an idiot for mocking Apple on their decision.